Washable electric shaver

ABSTRACT

A washable electric shaver comprising a water-tight housing having a drive motor therein and a switch mounted thereon, and a shaving head. The shaving head has a stationary shear plate cooperable with a movable shear element which, when driven by the drive motor, oscillates in engagement with the stationary shear plate to cut hairs of a beard. The shaving head has a pair of end openings located on respective sides of the movable shear element and adapted to be selectively opened and closed by respective lateral lids which are normally biased so as to close the end openings. The shaver can be washed by allowing a flush of water to flow from one of the end openings to the other through the interior of the head when the lateral lids are in opened positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to an electric shaver and, moreparticularly, to a washable electric shaver which can be usedselectively either as a wet type or a dry type.

A washable electric shaver is a recent development in the art andgenerally comprises, as is the case with the dry type, a shaving headincluding a stationary shear plate, having a multiplicity of smallperforations defined therein, and a power-driven or movable shearelement movable relative to and cooperable with the stationary shearplate to cut hairs of a beard and/or a mustache projecting towards themovable shear element through the perforations in the stationary shearplate. In general, of the various features, the employment of awater-tight structure as a housing for the electric circuitry includinga motor, a battery source and a switch and rust-resistant material forat least the component parts of the shaving head, may be considereddistinguishing the wet type shaver from the dry type, although the wetshaver can also be used as a dry shaver if desired.

The washable electric shaver is considered very convenient in that theclippings of hairs accumulated inside the shaving head can readily bewashed off into the drain. This is in contrast to the dry type which,unlike the wet type, cannot be used as a wet type and which requires anoccasional or regular cleaning of the shaving head with the aid of aseparate brush to remove the clippings.

Also, the wet type has an additional advantage. While it has often beenobserved with the dry type that some of the hair clippings, once wettedby a fatty secretion from sweat glands in the human face, are incrustedto the cutting edge or edges of the movable shear element so stubbornlyas to require a relative strong brushing for the removal thereof, thewet shaver is substantially free from such an inconvenience when usedwith a soap or a shaving foam applied to the hairs to be shaved.Specifically, when the wet shaver is used with a soap or a shaving foamapplied to the hairs to be cut, the secretion from the sweat glands canbe neutralized by the soap or the shaving foam and, therefore, some ofthe wetted hair clippings gathered around the cutting edge or edges ofthe movable shear element can readily be removed therefrom when theshaving head is flushed with water or washed in a pool of water in amanner similar to the old-fashioned razor.

However, the prior art washable electric shaver is still unsatisfactoryin that difficulty is encountered in the achievement of a substantiallycomplete cleaning of the shaving head with water and/or in that, eventhough the hair clippings inside the shaving head can be substantiallycompletely removed, a complicated and time-consuming handling isrequired.

To keep a razor sharp so that smooth and comfortable shaving can beappreciated throughout the shaving procedure, it is often desirable towash the razor with water in a manner to remove the hair clippings witheach one or two draws of the razor. This way of using the razor isequally applicable to the washable electric shaver for the same purpose,however the prior art washable electric shaver has a furtherdisadvantage in that water used to flush the shaving head and/ordroplets of water remaining in the shaving head after the washing tendto flow downwards to wet the body of the shaver held by the hand of theuser. Once the body of the shaver is wetted, holding of the shaver maybe hampered because slippage is likely to occur between the hand and thebody of the shaver.

Apart from the discussion of the prior art washable electric shavers,the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 45-9388, published May 2,1970, discloses the shaving head for an electric shaver which isprovided with a pair of simultaneously pivotable lateral lids forselectively opening and closing respective lateral openings leading intothe interior of the shaving head. The shaving head disclosed thereincomprises a generally elongated movable shear element having a pluralityof juxtaposed blades and adapted to be linearly vibrated in a directionlongitudinally thereof, and a stationary shear plate having amultiplicity of small perforations defined therein and supported so asto overlay the movable shear element for sliding engagement therewithwith the lateral openings defined adjacent to and confronting theopposite ends of the movable shear element. For the selective openingand closing of the lateral openings, a manipulating mechanism isprovided, which comprises a knob supported on the casing for the shaverfor movement between opened and closed positions and a leaf springhaving its opposite ends pivotally connected to the lateral lids, anintermediate portion of the leaf spring being trapped by or secured tothe knob. The leaf spring employed therein has a length substantiallygreater than the linear distance or span between the respective pointsof pivot of the lateral lids so that a snap acting mechanism of the leafspring can be utilized to cause the lateral lids to pivot between twodifferent positions to open and close the lateral openings depending onthe direction in which the knob is moved.

The publication now under discussion merely says that, when and so longas the knob is in the opened position with the lateral lids opening thelateral openings, the interior of the shaving head can receive a brushinserted therein through either of these lateral openings for theremoval of the hair clippings, but is silent as to the capability of theelectric shaver being washed with water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In any event, the present invention has been devised to substantiallyeliminate the disadvantages and inconveniences discussed as inherent inthe prior art washable electric shavers and has for its essential objectto provide an improved washable electric shaver which can be washed withwater until it is substantially clean with no difficulty and with nopossibility of water being substantially permitted to wet the body ofthe shaver.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved electric shaver of the type referred to above having aspecially designed configuration to improve the ease to hold the shaverwith care having been taken in selecting the position of a lid openingknob in relation to a power switch.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electricshaver of the type referred to above, which can be manufactured with aminimum number of component parts and is easy to fabricate.

In order to accomplish these objects, according to a preferredembodiment of this invention, there is provided a washable electricshaver which comprises a generally elongated water-tight housingaccommodating therein an electrically powered motor and providing a gripfor holding by the hand of the user, and a shaving head mounted on oneend of the water-tight housing or body. The shaving head comprises agenerally T-shaped configuration of one-piece construction having ahollow stem having one end so sized as to permit the exterior surfacethereof to be continuous with the exterior surface of the water-tighthousing and the other end formed integrally with a transverse benchwhich extends laterally outwardly therefrom in opposite directions. Theshaving head also comprises a generally semi-circular cross-sectionedcap removably mounted on the transverse bench and having a pair ofopposite end openings adjacent the respective ends of the bench and alsoa rectangular opening, both defined therein. This cap when mounted onthe transverse bench defines the interior of the shaving head with therectangular opening confronting the transverse bench.

The shaving head further comprises a stationary shear plate of any knownconstruction having a multiplicity of fine perforations defined thereinand replaceably mounted on the cap to cover the rectangular opening in amanner so as to have a curvilinear surface for the contact with the skinduring the shaving. An elongated movable shear element of any knownconstruction having a plurality of juxtaposed blades cooperable with thestationary shear plate to cut the hairs is supported within the interiorof the shaving head on an eccentric shaft coupled to a drive shaft ofthe motor such that, when and so long as the motor is electricallypowered, the movable shear element can be linearly vibrated in adirection generally parallel to the longitudinal sense of the transversebench and perpendicular to that of the shaver body.

The end openings in the cap, generally lined up with the movable shearelement and communicating with the interior of the shaving head, areadapted to be selectively opened and closed by associated lids which arenormally biased to close the corresponding end openings. These lids maybe pivotally mounted on either the cap or the transverse bench, howeverin the illustrated embodiment they are mounted on the cap to enhance theease to fabricate and also to minimize the number of projections whichmay be exposed to the outside when the cap is removed from thetransverse bench. For moving the lids to open the end openings, theshaving head includes a manipulatable slide knob, movable between openedand closed positions in a direction generally perpendicular to thelongitudinal sense of the transverse bench, and a motion transmitter fortransmitting the movement of the slide knob to the lids. The motiontransmitter may be a rigid member, having its intermediate portioncoupled to the slide knob and the opposite ends thereof engageable withthe respective lids.

The slide knob may have a detent mechanism for avoiding the possibilitythat the slide knob, once moved to the opened position, may beautomatically returned to the closed position, upon the release of anexternal pushing force therefrom, under the influence of biasing forcesacting on the lids to close the corresponding lids.

The washing of the shaving head to remove the hair clippings from theinterior thereof is usually carried out while the lids are in positionto open the end openings. At this time, the shaving head may be washedby either shaking the shaving head in a pool of water or allowing aflush of water to flow from one of the end openings to the other throughthe interior of the shaving head.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, the T-shapedconfiguration of the shaving head is so shaped as to have a constrictedarea generally at the junction between the stem and the transverse benchto facilitate the drainage of water drops which would otherwise flowtowards the water-tight housing or grip, and also as to permit theshaving head to lean at a certain angle relative to the longitudinalsense of the grip in a manner with the longitudinal sense of thetransverse bench lying in a plane at right angles to that of the grip tofacilitate the ease to hold the shaver as a whole during the shavingoperation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a washable electric shaveraccording to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the shaver of FIG. 1, with its lidsshown as opened;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shaver of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a shaving head ofthe shaver of FIG. 1, showing the lids closed;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the lids opened;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the shaver with amovable shear element removed to show the interior of the shaving head;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the shaving head taken alongthe lines VII--VII and VIII--VIII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing a slide knob moved to anopened position to open the lids;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a mechanism for selectively opening andclosing the lids, with only one of the lids being shown;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, showing themanner in which the lids are selectively opened and closed; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the shaver, with a portion cutaway, showing the shaver being washed with a flush of water coming froma water faucet.

Before the description of this invention proceeds, it is to be notedthat like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout theaccompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, a washable electric shaver according tothis invention and shown therein is of a generally two-componentstructure comprising an elongated water-tight housing 10, which servesconcurrently as a grip for holding by the hand of a user, and a shavinghead 22. The housing 10 has one end closed by an end plate 12 in anysuitable manner, but in any event in a water-tight fashion, and theother end closed by an end wall which may be either a separate member oran integral part of the housing 10. Preferably, the end wall at theother end of the housing 10 is formed with a recess 14 in which a pairof plug pins (not shown) for removable connection with an externalelectric power supply line (not shown) are exposed. As a matter ofcourse, these plug pins are situated within the recess 14 and extend ina water-tight fashion through the end wall.

The housing 10 accommodates therein a micromotor M having its driveshaft rotatably extending through the end plate 12, in a water-tightfashion, the tip of which drive shaft has an eccentric flywheel 16mounted thereon for rotation together therewith. The flywheel 16,capable of undergoing an eccentric rotation relative to the drive shaftof the motor M during the rotation of the latter, carries a drive pin 18having one end rigidly secured thereto so as to extend in a directionopposite to and parallel to the drive shaft of the motor M, but in anaxially offset relation to the drive shaft of the motor M.

The housing 10 has a slide 20 mounted exteriorly thereon for movementbetween on and off positions in a direction preferably parallel to thelongitudinal sense thereof for controlling a power supply control switch(not shown) for initiating and interrupting the supply of an electricpower to the motor M when the slide 20 is moved to the on position andthe off position, respectively. The housing 10 may accommodate a batterysource B therein, preferably a rechargeable battery, and an electriccircuit associated with the electric component parts accommodated insidethe housing 10.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 to 3, the shaving head 22 comprises agenerally T-shaped body 24 constituted by a hollow stem 26 having oneend mounted on the end plate 12 by means of either a screw mounting or abayonet mounting so as to cover both the eccentric flywheel 16 and thedrive pin 18, and a transverse bench 28 integral with the stem 26 andprotruding laterally outwards from the other end of the stem 26 in adirection generally perpendicular to the longitudinal sense of thehousing 10 as best seen from FIGS. 1 and 2. As best shown in FIG. 3, thestem 26, except for a rear portion thereof which is rearward to theslide 20, i.e., which is situated on one side of the shavercircumferentially opposite to the slide 20, is generally taperedinwardly, or is so shaped as to converge in a direction towards thetransverse bench 28 so as to define a constricted area 30 generally atthe junction between the stem 26 and the transverse bench 28. Inaddition, the transverse bench 28 integral with the stem 26, is somolded together with the stem 26 and so shaped as to tilt at a certainangle relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal sense of thehousing 10 or the shaver body in a direction substantially frontwardtowards the slide 20, as viewed in FIG. 3.

In other words, the head body 24 of one-piece construction including thestem 26 and the transverse bench 28 is molded to such a shape that theshaving head 22 is tilted forwards at a certain angle relative to theelongated housing 10 so that, during the shaving of the hairs, it canincidentally lean against the skin even when the housing 10 held in thehand of the user is generally positioned upright.

The shaving head 22 also comprises a cap 32 of a shape generally similarto the inverted shape of a figure "U" comprised of a pair of oppositeend walls 34 of a generally inverted U-shape and a wall 36 of agenerally inverted U-shape having its opposite U-shaped lateral edgescontinued to the U-shaped peripheral edge portions of the respective endwalls 34. The end walls 34 have end openings 34a (FIGS. 4 and 5) definedtherein, respectively, each being of a shape similar to the shape of anyone of the end walls 34, and the wall 36 also has a shaving opening 36adefined therein at a location corresponding to the bottom of the shapeof the figure "U" and extending between the end walls 34. A flexiblestationary shear plate 38 having a multiplicity of fine perforationsdefined therein in a predetermined or desired pattern is replaceablymounted on the cap 32 in any known manner so as to cover the shavingopening 36a, the stationary shear plate 38 being so bent as to followthe contour of the U-shaped peripheral edge portions of the respectiveend walls 34.

Hereinafter, an internal mechanism of the shaving head 22 will bedescribed with particular reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. As can readily beunderstood from FIGS. 4 to 9, the transverse bench 28 is, when generallyviewed from top, rectangular in shape, having a pair of opposite endwalls 28a, a pair of opposite side walls 28b and a bottom wall 28c, thewalls 28a and 28b being continued to and integral with the stem 26through the bottom wall 28c, and the bottom wall 28c being discontinuedby a bottom opening which is defined therein in communication with thehollow of the stem 26.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 to 9, the transverse bench 28, essentially inthe form of a receptacle, is closed by a rectangular cover plate 40 toform a generally flattened space therebetween. This cover plate 40 issecured by means of set screws 42 to a pair of spaced projections 44integral with and protruding outwards from the bottom wall 28c in adirection away from the stem 26, and has a central aperture 40a definedtherein, and also a pair of opposite hollow bearing projections 46located adjacent the opposite ends thereof and protruding therefrom atright angles in a direction away from the stem 26. The bearingprojections 46 carry detent pieces 48, respectively, which detent pieces48 are collapsibly supported thereby, but are normally biased byassociated springs 50 within the bearing projections 46 so as to projectlaterally outwardly therefrom in the opposite directions away from eachother for engagement into corresponding detent recesses, defined in theinterior surfaces of the respective end walls 34 of the cap 32 to holdthe cap 32 in the form as mounted on the transverse bench 28. Thus, itwill readily be seen that the cap 32 with the stationary shear plate 38thereon can be removed from the transverse bench 28 merely by pulling itoutwards in a direction generally perpendicular to the bench 28 therebyallowing the detent pieces 48 to be temporarily collapsed inwardly ofthe respective projections 46 against the springs 50 to let the endwalls 34 pass over the detent pieces 48.

Extending loosely through the central opening 40a in the cover plate 40and also through the bottom opening in the bottom wall 28c of thetransverse bench 28 is an oscillating carriage 52 operatively coupled tothe drive pin 18 (FIG. 2) for the oscillatory motion in a directiongenerally perpendicular thereto and parallel to the longitudinal senseof the transverse bench 28. The oscillating carriage 52 includes a post54 having one end situated within the hollow of the head body 24 andformed integrally with a pair of opposite flexible arms 56 which extendaxially inwardly thereof towards the other end of the post 54 generallyin parallel relation to each other, the free ends of the arms 56 beingfirmly clamped between the projections 44 and the cover plate 40 withthe set screws 42 passing therethrough as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.With the oscillating carriage 52 so supported, the drive pin 18 (FIG. 3)projects axially inwards into the post 54 wherefore, during theeccentric rotation of the flywheel 16 as a result of the rotation of themotor M, the post 54 can be oscillated in a direction generallyperpendicular thereto and parallel to the longitudinal sense of thetransverse bench 28. The other end of the post 54, situated within thecap 32, has a generally elongated movable shear element 58 yieldinglymounted thereon through a holder 60 of any known construction in a knownmanner. More specifically, the holder 60 having the movable shearelement 58 replaceably mounted thereon has a bushing 62 supportedthereby for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the lengthwisedirection of the movable shear element 58 and is carried by theoscillating carriage 52 with the bushing 62 mounted axially non-movablyon the other end of the post 54.

The movable shear element 58, comprised of a plurality of closelyjuxtaposed blades as is well known to those skilled in the art, isnormally biased so as to contact the stationary shear plate 38 by acompression spring 64 interposed between the bushing 62 and a closureplate 66. The closure plate 66 is mounted on the post 54 for oscillatorymovement together therewith and is used to close the central opening 40ain the cover plate 40 to prevent the clippings of the hairs from fallinginto the hollow of the stem 26 therethrough and then through the bottomopening in the transverse bench 28.

In the construction so far described, it will readily be seen that,during the rotation of the motor, the movable shear element 58 can beoscillated relative to the stationary shear plate 38 in a directiontransversely of the drive pin 18 then undergoing an eccentric motiontogether with the eccentric flywheel 16, cooperating with the stationaryshear plate 38 to cut hairs which have projected throught the fineperforations in the stationary shear plate 38 for engagement by themovable shear element 58. In any event, the manner by which both thestationary and movable shear elements 38 and 58 are supported relativeto each other may not be limited to those described and illustrated, butmay be of any known construction.

In accordance with a feature of this invention, the shaving head 22further comprises a pair of lateral lids, generally identified by 70,for selectively closing and opening the end openings 34a in the cap 32.So far illustrated the latteral lids 70 are pivotally carried by the capin a manner which will now be described with particular reference toFIGS. 8 to 11. However, it is to be noted that, since the lateral lids70 are supported by the respective end walls 34 of the cap 32 in thesame manner, reference will be made to only one of the lateral lids 70for the sake of brevity.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 11, and as best shown in FIG. 10, thelateral lid 70 is generally similar in shape to the shape of therespective end wall 34 of the cap 32 where the associated end opening34a is defined, but is of a size sufficient to completely cover the endopening 34a. This lateral lid 70 has one end generally rounded and theother end formed integrally with a pair of spaced bearing flanges 72 ofa generally sector-shaped configuration protruding outwardly therefromin a direction at right angle to the body of the lateral lid 70. Thelateral lid 70 has a shaft 74 rotatably extending through the bearingflanges 72 with its opposite ends situated exteriorly thereof andsecured to the associated end wall 34. The securement of the oppositeends of the shaft 74 to the associated end wall 34 may be carried out bypressure-fitting them into correspondingly spaced recesses (not shown)defined in one surface of the associated end wall 34 facing the interiorof the cap 32, or in any suitable manner readily conceivable to thoseskilled in the art. It is to be noted that, with the lateral lid 70 sosupported, the bearing flanges 72 project into the interior of the cap32 through a cutout area defined at 34b, as shown in FIG. 11, in theassociated end wall 34. The lateral lid 70 is normally held in positionto close the end opening 34a in the associated end wall 34 by the actionof a coil or torsion spring 76 having its opposite ends engagedrespectively to the end wall 34 and the lateral lid 70, a substantiallyintermediate coiled portion thereof being loosely mounted on the shaft74 at a location between the bearing flanges 72.

While each of the lateral lids 70 is constructed and supported in themanner as hereinbefore described, it is to be noted that, when theselateral lids 70 are pivoted against the respective coil springs 76 toopen the associated end openings 34a as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 9, theyspread in the opposite directions with respect to each other in a planegenerally perpendicular to the plane of each of the end openings 34a andalso generally parallel to the transverse bench 28 as best shown inFIGS. 5 and 12. For selectively opening and closing the lateral lids 70simultaneously, a switching mechanism is utilized, which comprises amanipulatable slide knob 78 and a motion transmitter 80.

The motion transmitter 80 so far shown is of one-piece constructionincluding a pair of elongated beams 82 connected together by a pair ofspaced bridges 86, one of the elongated beams 82 having itssubstantially intermediate portion which is integrally formed with aconnecting flange 83 for connection with the slide knob 78 in a mannerdescribed later. As best shown in FIG. 10, each of the beams 82 has apair of engagement projections, generally identified by 84, whichprojections 84 are integrally formed therewith and protrude therefrom ina direction at right angles to the respective beam 82. This motiontransmitter 80 is accommodated within the generally flattened spacebetween the transverse bench 28 and the cover plate 40 for movement in adirection towards and away from the cover plate 40 as best shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. It is to be noted that, with the motion transmitter 80 soaccommodated movably, the projections 84 on the beams 82 are alignedwith corresponding openings 41 defined in the cover plate 40 at its fourcorners as shown in FIG. 6, confronting through such openings 41 withrespective flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 of the lateral lids70 in a manner substantially as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, it will readilybe seen that, as the motion transmitter 80 within the above describedflattened space between the transverse bench 28 and the cover plate 40is moved close towards the cover plate in a manner as will subsequentlybe described, the engagement projections 84 contact and push the flatedges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 fast with the lateral lids 70,thereby causing the lateral lids 70 to pivot against the associated coilsprings 76 to open the end openings 34a in the end walls 34 of the cap32. It will also readily be seen that, when the lateral lids 70 are soopened, the flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges 72 fast with thelateral lids 70 are held in contact with the end faces of the associatedbeams 82, respectively, and therefore, the lateral lids 70 can be keptin position to open the end openings 34a so long as the motiontransmitter 80 is held in a position close to the cover plate 40 asshown in FIGS. 5 and 9.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the cover plate 40 has one side edge formedintegrally with a depending plate 39 positioned in overlapping relationto the connecting flange 83 integral with the beam 82 and received in arecess (not shown) defined in one of the side walls 28b of thetransverse bench 28 which is located on one side of the housing 10opposite to the switch slide 20 and adjacent the junction between thetransverse bench 28 and the stem 26 as shown in FIG. 3. The dependingplate 39 has a pair of slots 39a defined therein for the passage ofconnecting arms 78a of the manipulatable slide knob 78 therethrough forconnection with the connecting flange 83 in a manner as will bedescribed later, each of said slots extending in a directionperpendicular to the transverse bench and being so sized as to permitthe slide knob 78 to be moved between opened and closed positions. Thedepending plate 39 also has a pair of spaced detent holes 39b and 39c(FIG. 7) defined therein at a location intermediately between the slots39a, which detent holes 39b and 39c correspond to the opened and closedpositions, respectively, of the slide knob 78.

For cooperating with the detent holes 39b and 39c in the depending plate39 integral with the cover plate 40, the connecting flange 83 integralwith the beam 82 of the motion transmitter 80 is formed with a generallyU-shaped cutout so as to leave a resilient tongue 88 which has a roundeddetent projection 88a integrally formed therewith, or otherwise rigidlymounted thereon, for the selective engagement into the detent holes 39band 39c one at a time.

The slide knob 78 having the arms 78a integrally formed therewith isrigidly connected to the connecting flange 83 with the arms 78a looselyextending through the spaced slots 39a in the depending plate 39integral with the cover plate 40 such that the motion transmitter 80 canbe moved together with the slide knob 78. Although the connection of thearms 78a to the connecting flange 83 may be accomplished in any suitablemanner, for example, by the use of a bonding agent or a pressure-fittingtechnique, an anchoring method is employed in the preferred embodiment.For this purpose, while the free ends of the respective arms 78a are soshaped as to represent an anchor, the connecting flange 83 is formedwith a pair of anchoring holes 83a spaced from each other a distanceslightly greater or smaller than the span between the arms 78a so thatthe arms 78a can be connected to the connecting flange 83 by insertingthe arms 78a into the associated anchoring holes 83a while the arms 78aare allowed to outwardly or inwardly deform against their ownresiliency, as the anchor-shaped free ends of said arms 78a passtherethrough, and then to let them resume the original positions.

From the foregoing description, it has now become clear that, when theslide knob 78 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 8 is moved towardsthe opened position by the application of an external pushing forcethereto, the motion transmitter 80 is generally upwardly shifted, asviewed in FIGS. 7 to 9 with the engagement projections 84 consequentlybrought into engagement with the flat edges 72a of the bearing flanges72 of the lateral lids 70, the lateral lids 70 being completely openedas shown in FIG. 5 when the slide knob 78 is subsequently clicked intothe opened position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. At this time, the detentprojection 88a (FIGS. 7 and 10) is engaged in the detent hole 39b tosubstantially lock the slide knob 78 in the opened position even thoughthe composite force of the coil springs 76 tending to close the laterallids 70 may be transmitted to the slide knob 78 through the motiontransmitter 80.

However, the application of an external pulling force to the slide knob78 to move the latter from the opened position towards the closedposition results in the pivotal movement of the lateral lids 70 by theaction of the coil springs 76 to close the respective end openings 34a.It is to be noted that at this time, i.e., as the slide knob 78 is movedtowards the closed position, the detent projection 88a that has beenengaged in the detent hole 39b is passed onto the detent hole 39callowing the tongue 88 to flex against its own resiliency.

The washable electric shaver constructed and operable in the mannerdescribed hereinbefore can be washed in the following manner after orduring the course of the shaving operation.

Referring to FIG. 12, after the shaving has been done, or in the courseof the shaving operation, and when the shaving head 22 is desired to bewashed, the user should move the slide knob 78 from the closed positionto the opened position to open the lateral lids 70. Then, the shavershould be held in position with either one of the end openings 34aaligned with a flush of water flowing from a city water supply faucet90, allowing the water to flow from one end opening 34a to the otherthrough the interior of the shaving head 22 as shown. At this time, thelateral lids 70 in their opened positions concurrently serve as bafflesfor substantially preventing, or minimizing, the water from splashingrearwardly onto the housing or grip 10. However, should it happen thatthe water used to wash the shaving head 22 splashes or overflows so muchas to flow towards the housing or grip 10, the splashing or overflowingwater can advantageously be drained, in a manner as shown by thearrow-headed lines in FIG. 12, because of the presence of theconstricted area 30 (FIGS. 1 to 3) defined exteriorly between the stem26 and the transverse bench 28. Accordingly, the splashing oroverflowing water will not substantially reach the housing or grip 10and, therefore, the housing or grip 10 can advantageously firmly held bythe hand of the user with no substantial possibility of the occurrenceof slip between the hand and the exterior surface of the housing or grip10. In addition, the hair clippings washed out from the shaving head 22will not adhere to the housing or grip 10 because the water that hasflown through the interior of the shaving head carrying the hairclippings does not flow upwards, as viewed in FIG. 12, along thetransverse bench.

Moreover, since the slide knob 78 is arranged at a locationcircumferentially opposite to the switch slide 20 with respect to thebody or housing of the shaver and is arranged adjacent the junctionbetween the stem 26 and the transverse bench 28 where the transversebench 28 tilts relative to the stem 28, there is no possibility of theslide knob 78 being erroneously moved during the shaving.

Although this invention has fully been described in connection with thepreferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing,it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent tothose skilled in the art from the reading of the disclosure set forthabove. By way of example, it is possible to employ a single engagementprojection on the motion transmitter for each of the lateral lids. Inaddition, the shape and constuction of the motion transmitter may not belimited to those described and shown, but may be in the form of anelongated plate or strip having its opposite ends formed with theengagement projections.

Such changes and modifications are, unless they depart from the scope ofthis invention as defined by the appended claims, to be understood asincluded therein accordingly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A washable electric shaver comprising, incombination:a generally elongated water-tight housing servingconcurrently as a grip; a drive unit housed within said housing; anoperating element mounted on said housing for controlling a power supplycontrol switch for interrupting and initiating supply of electric powerto said drive unit; a generally T-shaped shaving head including a hollowstem mounted at one end on said housing so as to render said shaver as awhole to represent a generally T-shaped configuration integral with atransverse bench portion a cap mounted removably on said portion, saidcap having a pair of spaced end openings defined therein and locatedsubstantially on respective sides of said housing, a stationary shearplate replaceably carried by said cap, a generally elongated shearelement for movement in engagement with said stationary shear plate tocut hairs to be shaved, and means for supporting said movable shearelement within said stem portion and for transmitting a drive from saiddrive unit thereto, said end openings being aligned with each other andpositioned adjacent opposite ends of said movable shear element; a pairof pivotally supported lateral lids provided on said cap for selectivelyopening and closing said respective end openings; means for biasing saidlateral lids to open and close said associated end openings; a slideelement supported on said stem portion movable between open and closedpositions, said slide element when moved from said close position tosaid open position bringing said lateral lids in position to open saidend openings; means for transmitting the movement of said slide elementto said lateral lids; and an eccentric drive pin coupled with said driveunit for driving connection with said means for supporting said movableshear element and said transmitting means when said shaving head ismounted on said one end of said housing, said slide element beingpositioned on said shaver head circumferentially opposite to saidoperating element on said housing.
 2. The shaver of claim 1, whereinsaid transverse bench is tilted forward and upwards relative to saidstem such as to position said shaving head so as to confront a face ofthe user when the housing held by a hand of the user is generallypositioned vertically, and wherein said slide element is provided onsaid T-shaped shaving head at a location adjacent a junction betweensaid stem and said transverse bench portion facing in a directiongenerally opposite to the direction in which said bench is tilted. 3.The shaver of claim 2, wherein said T-shaped shaving head has aconstricted area defined at said junction between said stem and saidtransverse bench.
 4. The shaver of claim 1, wherein said lateral lidsare pivotally supported on said transverse bench, and wherein saidlateral lids when held in an open position lie in a plane parallel tosaid movable shear element and extend outwards therefrom in oppositedirections with respect to each other perpendicular to each of saidrespective end openings.